Lindsey Millis
Background:
World Malaria Day is held every year on April 25th, in order to raise awareness of the global impact of malaria on the global community. Originally, World Malaria Day was just Africa Malaria Day and was only observed in Africa from 2001 to 2007.
However, in 2008, there was a proposal to change Africa Malaria Day to World Malaria Day to reflect the virus’s impact across the globe, as malaria exists in more than one hundred countries. World Malaria Day also acts as a forum to share about the impacts of malaria.
Every year World Malaria Day allows doctors and scientists to discuss the worldwide impact of the disease as well as ways to prevent getting the virus, as well as ways to treat the virus if you get it.
Nonprofits and international organizations that are dedicated to ending malaria are also allowed to spread information on the virus as well as advocate for the Global Malaria Action Plan (GMAP). The GMAP was created as calls for action against malaria strengthened and has three main goals: control, elimination, and research.[1]
2023 Theme – Time to Deliver Zero Malaria: Invest, Innovate, Implement:
In 2023, Malaria is a completely preventable disease with the use of medication and other measures including using bug nets. However, 619,000 malaria deaths and 247 new infections of malaria occurred in 2021, hence why this year’s theme is time to deliver zero malaria. The United Nations has created the three I’s in order to do this: invest, innovate, and implement and has put an emphasis on the third I, implement.[2]
The United Nations plans to expand protective measures against malaria in Sub-Saharan Africa including by providing access to the three chemoprevention strategies: Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention, Perennial Malaria Chemoprevention, and Intermittent Preventive Treatment of Malaria in Pregnancies. The United Nations also plans to provide countries with new methods they can use in order to assess the system they have in place for monitoring malaria in their countries.[3]
[1] Rogers, Kara. “World Malaria Day.” Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica, inc. Accessed April 11, 2023. https://www.britannica.com/topic/World-Malaria-Day.
[2] “World Malaria Day 2023.” World Health Organization. World Health Organization. Accessed April 11, 2023. https://www.who.int/campaigns/world-malaria-day/2023.
[3] “Implement.” World Health Organization. World Health Organization. Accessed April 11, 2023. https://www.who.int/campaigns/world-malaria-day/2023/implement.